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The greek chicken crepe combines chicken breast coated with greek seasoning, tomato, cucumber, red onion feta cheese and tzatziki sauce. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)
BELGIAN STYLE

Signature Dish: Ironworks Creperie’s Greek chicken crepe

Apr 16, 2021 | 4:14 PM

NANAIMO —Ironworks Cafe and Creperie serves up a popular savoury dish which wasn’t originally intended to land on its regular menu.

The restaurant’s greek chicken crepe combines chicken breast coated with greek seasoning, tomato, cucumber, red onion, feta cheese and tzatziki sauce.

Owner Dina Stuehler said their customers raved about the combination of flavours. She said it became clear their greek chicken crepe had to be more than a limited time offer.

“We have a lot of vegetables from farmer’s markets that aren’t cooked, it has a great crunch. This has turned out to be a favourite menu item after we originally had a different chicken option in its place.”

The tastefully presented dish is topped with additional veggies and tzatziki sauce.

Stuehler said her crepes are fashioned after a Belgian style, which she said are a little more robust.

She said their batter has improved by switching to flour from a Cowichan Bay based provider, resulting in a noticeably improved final product.

“We do sort of like a Belgian style, we do a thicker crepe. It’s not like the French where it’s super paper thin. And we make it more hearty, so it’s like my own little twist on it as well,” Stuehler said.

Ironworks Cafe and Creperie was created after Stuehler’s nearly a decade of traveling while employed in the cruise ship industry. She researched how crepes are made in other parts of the world and put her own spin on it.

While she’s passionate about making outstanding crepes, Stuehler conceded that she doesn’t have much of a culinary background.

“I’m lucky enough to have a friend who’s a Belgian chef, he showed me how to make crepes the traditional way on these griddles. So I did a couple of days with him, he showed me how to do it and I’ve kind of taken it to the next level.”

The crepes are cooked at 215 degrees with a wide selection of sweet crepes requiring very little time to be ready.

A range of crepes for breakfast, lunch and dinner crepe options are available as part of an ever-evolving menu, which includes keto friendly, vegan and gluten free options.

Custom crepes are also available upon request.

In addition to crepes, hot and iced Italian coffee and a variety of teas from a Vancouver Island farm are among the options from the drinks menu.

Syrups for hot drinks are made in-house.

“I love good coffee and I love crepes and I just feel like everybody needs access to it,” Stuehler said.

Ironworks Cafe and Creperie opened in Nanaimo late in 2020 on Commercial St. at Bastion St. The Nanaimo location is open between 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week.

Other locations are in Duncan, Ladysmith, while Chemainus has a seasonal kiosk.

Stuehler has further expansion plans on Vancouver Island.

Signature Dish is brought to you by Island Savings – A Division of First West Credit Union, learn more at https://www.islandsavings.ca/.

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